Measurement-Based Achievable Throughput Estimation in IEEE 802.11a WLANs

Knowledge of dynamically changing achievable throughput is important in the design of an adaptive QoS-provisioning system over WLANs. In this letter, we introduce a novel measurement-based throughput estimation scheme and its practical realization for IEEE 802.11a WLAN environment. By utilizing traffic statistics measurements at the wireless AP (access point) in a timely manner, the proposed scheme estimates idle (i.e., remaining) channel time and converts it into available min/max throughput guidelines. Prototype realization in a Linux-based testbed verifies that the proposed scheme can estimate the available throughput with precision.     

Space-Frequency Precoding with Space–Tap Correlation Information at the Transmitter

In closed-loop methods for obtaining exact channel state information at the transmitter (CSI-Tx), the overhead associated with the feedback can be excessive for fast mobiles. Channel statistics-based CSI-Tx requires a much smaller overhead and is, therefore, attractive for use with fast mobiles. We study ways to exploit correlation-based CSI-Tx in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system. We focus on a channel environment in which spatial and tap correlations are present. We propose a channel model for the case that spatial and tap correlations can be separated and show that in this case channel correlation decreases the ergodic capacity of an MIMO-OFDM system when no CSI-Tx is available. However, this decrease can be mitigated when correlation-based CSI-Tx is exploited. We introduce an optimal precoding approach to maximize capacity with spatial and tap correlation-based CSI-Tx. We also propose a statistical waterfilling scheme, which leads to almost optimal capacity performance without requiring computationally intensive numerical optimization. Based on these approaches, the impact of spatial and tap correlations is investigated.     

Acoustooptic Tunable Gap-Type Bandpass Filter With a Broad Stopband

We demonstrate a novel all-fiber gap-type tunable bandpass filter configuration that consists of a broadband hollow optical fiber (HOF) acoustooptic tunable filter (AOTF) concatenated with a narrowband single-mode fiber (SMF)-AOTF. Owing to the unique mode coupling properties of HOF-AOTF and SMF-AOTF, a narrow passband channel of a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of ~4 nm could be formed in a broad stopband platform of a 90-nm FWHM successfully. In this scheme, the center wavelength and rejection efficiency of both passband and stopband were found to be flexibly tunable by adjusting the frequency and the voltage of radio-frequency signals applied to individual acoustic transducers.     

Efficient non-coherent demodulation scheme for IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN systems

An efficient non-coherent demodulation algorithm to compensate for the frequency offset effectively is proposed for IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN systems working in the 868/915 MHz band. In the proposed algorithm, the decision criterion is changed depending on the frequency offset estimated in the preamble, and the received signal is differentially demodulated by using the phase difference between two consecutive bits. Simulation results show that the proposed method achieves better performance compared to conventional non-coherent algorithms, without increasing hardware costs significantly.     

Structural and electrical properties of the Ge x Si1−x /Si heterojunctions obtained by the method of direct bonding

The results of studying the structural and electrical properties of structures produced by the method of direct bonding of Ge _x Si_1?x and Si wafers are reported. The wafers were cut from the crystals grown by the Czochralski method. Continuity of the interface and the crystal-lattice defects were studied by X-ray methods using synchrotron radiation and by scanning electron microscopy. Measurements of the forward and reverse current-voltage characteristics of the p-Ge _x Si_1?x /n-Si diodes made it possible to assess the effect of the crystallattice defects on the electrical properties of heterojunctions. Satisfactory electrical parameters suggest that the technology of direct bonding is promising for the fabrication of large-area Ge _x Si_1?x /Si heterojunctions.     

Electrical properties of ultra-thin oxynitrided layer using N2O plasma in inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition for non-volatile memory on glass

In this work, the silicon oxynitride layer was studied as a tunneling layer for non-volatile memory application by fabricating low temperature polysilicon thin film transistors on glass. Silicon wafers were oxynitrided by only nitrous oxide plasma under different radio frequency powers and plasma treatment times. Plasma oxynitridation was performed in RF plasma using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy was employed to analyze the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in oxynitride layer. The oxynitrided layer formed under radio frequency power of 150 W and substrate temperature of 623 K was found to contain the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen as high as 1.57. The advantage of high nitrogen concentration in silicon oxide layer formed by using nitrous oxide plasma was investigated by capacitance-voltage measurement. The analysis of capacitance-voltage characteristics demonstrated that the ultra-thin oxynitride layers of 2 nm thickness formed by only nitrous oxide plasma have good properties as tunneling layer for non-volatile memory device.     

Rheological and mechanical properties of surface modified multi-walled carbon nanotube-filled PET composite

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites were prepared by in situ polymerization. To improve the dispersion of MWCNTs in PET matrix, the surface modified MWCNTs having acid groups (acid-MWCNT) and diamine groups (diamine-MWCNT) were used. The functional groups on the surface of modified MWCNTs were confirmed by infrared (IR) spectrometry. SEM analysis showed better dispersion of diamine-MWCNTs as compared to pristine-MWCNTs and acid-MWCNTs in the PET. The reaction between PET and diamine-MWCNTs was evidenced by the shifting of the G band to a higher frequency in Raman spectroscopy and an increase of the complex viscosity in rheological properties. The composites containing functionalized MWCNTs showed a large increase in the tensile strength and modulus. The PET/diamine-MWCNT composites showed maximum tensile strength and modulus increases by 350% and 290% at 0.5 and 2.0 wt%, respectively, as compared to pure PET.     

TD‐CFIE Formulation for Transient Electromagnetic Scattering from 3‐D Dielectric Objects

In this paper, we present a time domain combined field integral equation formulation (TD‐CFIE) to analyze the transient electromagnetic response from dielectric objects. The solution method is based on the method of moments which involves separate spatial and temporal testing procedures. A set of the RWG functions is used for spatial expansion of the equivalent electric and magnetic current densities, and a combination of RWG and its orthogonal component is used for spatial testing. The time domain unknowns are approximated by a set of orthonormal basis functions derived from the Laguerre polynomials. These basis functions are also used for temporal testing. Use of this temporal expansion function characterizing the time variable makes it possible to handle the time derivative terms in the integral equation and decouples the space‐time continuum in an analytic fashion. Numerical results computed by the proposed formulation are compared with the solutions of the frequency domain combined field integral equation.     

Ultra‐wideband Coexistence with WiBro

Interference effects of ultra‐wideband devices using the frequency band from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz on wireless broadband are evaluated. The ultra‐wideband emission power spectral density that would be necessary to protect a wireless broadband station is considered. Also, an analytic scheme based on a system level simulation of a WiBro system is proposed.     

A Temperature‐Controllable Microelectrode and Its Application to Protein Immobilization

This letter presents a smart integrated microfluidic device which can be applied to actively immobilize proteins on demand. The active component in the device is a temperature‐controllable microelectrode array with a smart polymer film, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) which can be thermally switched between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states. It is integrated into a micro hot diaphragm having an integrated micro heater and temperature sensors on a 2‐micrometer‐thick silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide (O/N/O) template. Only 36 mW is required to heat the large template area of 2 mm×16 mm to 40°C within 1 second. To relay the stimulus‐response activity to the microelectrode surface, the interface is modified with a smart polymer. For a model biomolecular affinity test, an anti‐6‐(2, 4‐dinitrophenyl) aminohexanoic acid (DNP) antibody protein immobilization on the microelectrodes is demonstrated by fluorescence patterns.